Platform Engineer

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In this role, you are accountable for:

1.    Designs, develops, tests, implements and supports the system Infrastructure to meet challenging deadlines, quality standards, business targets and customer requirements. 

2.    Analyses a wide range of complex business and technical issues in order to gain a thorough understanding of the system environment and proactively identifies and resolves system issues to ensure system availability and capacity for the business.

3.    Responsible for the 24/7 system support, of business critical applications in both production and non-production environments.

4.    Monitors and reviews the efficient and effective running of hardware, software and system tier services.

5.    Evaluates tools including open source products to ensure that the NHSBSA is running products that are most appropriate and in line with the ICT strategy to deliver against the business needs.

6.    Install, configure and test new versions of system tier offerings, ensuring that all products are within the NHSBSA End of Life strategy and minimise impact to the business.

7.    Produces departmental and project documentation - operating instructions, user guides and reference material at an appropriate level; for technical and a non-technical audience.

8.    Works within a multi-disciplinary project team supporting the delivery pipeline creating user stories to document and plan tasks.

9.    Plans and manages time effectively, frequently working on a number of systems/tasks in parallel, escalating and managing expectations as appropriate. Responds quickly to change and is able to re-prioritising workload as required. 

10.    Analyses a wide range of data e.g. technical manuals, business process documentation, system specifications and statistical performance data and resolves conflicting requirements, taking responsibility to update processes and documentation where changes are made.

11.    Uses initiative to make decisions on complex technical matters and make recommendations which influence key decisions to project and DevOps team.

12.    Communicates effectively at all levels, verbally and in writing to establish and maintain communication with individuals and groups, internally and externally. Explains complex concepts and technical issues in a manner that is appropriate for the target audience. 

13.    Conducts and participates in meetings, workshops and quality reviews with customers and colleagues in relation to all responsibilities and duties.

14.    Contributes towards the development of future work plans and requirements. Assists the planning process by producing time and resource estimates. 

15.    Operates in a quality-oriented environment and continually seeks to improve customer service by examining, recommending and implementing changes to procedures, policies and services.

16.    Carries out research and development work to support future business needs e.g. pilots, evaluation and trials of new technologies, hardware and software.

17.    Creates automated processes for the building and configuring of server platforms and the releasing and deploying of our software

18.    Analyses our existing processes to identify opportunities for improvement using automation and new technologies

19.    Creates dashboards and other tools for day-to-day monitoring and troubleshooting

20.    Uses monitoring tools to find problems, and work with the relevant area to resolve them quickly.

21.    Delivery of incidents, service requests, project work and associated work within SLA’s and KPI’s


In addition to the above accountabilities, as post holder you are expected to:
1.    Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the purpose of your role and as agreed by your line manager.
2.    Demonstrate NHSBSA values and core capabilities in all aspects of your work.
3.    Encourage an environment where your own and colleagues’ safety and well-being is promoted.
4.    Contribute to a culture which values diversity and inclusion.
5.    Follow NHSBSA policies, procedures, and protocols as they apply to your role.
6.    Have SC clearance or willing to undergo clearance following appointment to post


Working relationships

Responsible to: Application Platform Manager

Key relationships and connections:
1.    Lead Platform Engineer
2.    Programme and Project Managers
3.    Operations Platform staff
4.    ICT Project teams
5.    Business Solutions and Service Operations staff
6.    Third Party suppliers 
7.    Internal and external stakeholders